For Diane...

My mother hails from the west Texas town of El Paso.  Many times our family vacations consisted of driving across the vast Lone Star state.  El Paso in and of itself is not a particularly exciting town for young children, but I have many wonderful memories of those trips becasue of the people we visited: My beloved grandmother, GranMary who lived there till I was in high school, had a huge mulberry tree in her backyard that we climbed and let our imaginations run wild as we played.  The Parks family, consisting of my mom's cousin Diane, her husband Ronnie, and their daughters Melissa (an opera singer) and Pam (a music teacher).  The Parks' house was magical!  Between their extensive movie collection and big screen t.v., Ronnie's propensity to tell tall tales, and their huge family Christmas parties (where I was introduced to alcoholic egg nog at the tender age of 5... ugh) visiting the Park's home was always one of the highlights of the trip.

Last week Diane suffered a major stroke and she was moved from the hospital to at home hospice care.  Over the past couple of years she has struggled with some pretty serious health concerns.  But in the midst of a potentially discouraging journey her family has rallied to take care of her.  Her husband Ronnie has faithfully and selflessly tended to her in a way that exhemplifies the wedding vow of "in sickness and in health."  Just a little while ago Ronnie posted this as his status:
I have brought my sweet bride, my best friend and the mother of our two wonderful children home today. Hospice will aid us with her care. She is by the bay window in our bedroom so she can be close to her beloved birds and enjoy the sunshine. Please pray for an easy transition.

This post serves as a prayer for Ronnie, Pam, Melissa, and Diane's family and friends as they say goodbye to their wife, mother, and friend.  Lord, may they find your comfort and peace today and in the coming weeks, months, and years.  And for Diane, I want to share the lyrics of a hymn I have recently come to love, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow."

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me



Ronnie and Diane